Developing apparatus for photographic films.



R. KROEDEL.

DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

v APPLlCATION FILED APR.26.1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

7%; ATTORNEYS Patented June 25, 1918.

INVQVTOR [Zoeri rvedel/ I WITNESSES.-

R. KROEDEL.

DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC F ILMS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1917.

1,270,302. Patented June 25, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

his ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

ROBERT KROEDEL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSI GNOR TO EASTMAN KODAK COM-PANY, OI ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DEVELOPING APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1918.

Application filed April 28, 1917. Serial No. 184,664.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT KROEDEL, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Developing Apparatus for Photographic Films; and Idohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptibnof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, and to the reference-numerals nfarkedthereon.

. the ordinary roll film cartridge of commerce though features thereofare applicable to the development of film strips generally. To these andother ends the invention resides in certain improvements andcombinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described,the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of thespecification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a developing device constructed inaccordance with and illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the film supporting member with a filmstrip in place therein;

Fig. 4: is a bottom plan View of the film supporting member with thefilm removed and the roll holding box removed;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the film supportin member;

ig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal central section taken verticallythrough the device with the center portion thereof broken away;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line7-7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 88of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 9 is an end view of the film supportin member.

@imilar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is made mainlyof wood, preferably suitably treated with oil or wax block and thisconcavit to reduce its absorptive characteristics. It comprises twomajor parts, a long rectangular shallow tray 1 and an elongated filmsupporting member or block 2 fitting within the tray. The member 2 has areduced portion 3 at one end adjacent to a semi-cylindric-al concavity 4in the end face of the is adapted to receive a film roll woun on theusual film spool 5. The roll is held within the concav ity by adetachable box 6 that fits telescopically over the reduced portion 3 andprovides a light-tight roll holdin chamber 7 at this end of the filmsupporting member. Shoulders 8 at the base of the reduced portion 3-define the correct position of the box 6. At its opposite end the filmsupport 2 is provided with a receding or inclined end face 9 thatengages under an undercut end Wall 10 of the tray 1. The support 2 isinserted in the tray by first engaging its end 9 in the undercut portion10 and then lowering the opposite end to position. rangement tends tolock the two parts. together, prevents the ready entrance of light tothe bottom of the tray and further serves as a clamping means for thefree end of a film strip as will be later described.

Communicating with the roll holdin chamber 7 are two inclined guides 11forme by converging flanges or shoulders 12 on the bottom of the filmsupporting member This arl 2. Between and above the guides the memher 2is hollowed out by the formation of a channel 13 on its under side thatextends the length thereof with the exception of solid portions 14 and15 at respective ends that provide short lengths of wall opposed inspaced relation to the walls 12 of the film guides 11. A tortuouspassage 16 extending longitudinally and transversely through the member2 terminates at the top or upper face of the member in a pour opening 17and at its other or lower end in a discharge opening 18 that delivers tothe channel 13 and permits developing liquid to be introduced thereinwithout admitting any appreciable amount of light.

In using the device, the box 6 is'removed and the film roll, consistingof the film strip 19 and the backing strip 20, is inserted in theconcavity 4. The box is then replaced to properly confine the roll afterleading the outer or advance end of the film and its backing into theguides 11. The strips are film 19 is disposed from end to end of thesupport 2 and below the channel 13 and the extremity of the backingstrip 20 is brought around, as shown in Fig. 6 and clamped between theundercut wall 10 of the tray and the end face 9 of the support as thelatter is inserted in the former. The bottoms of the guides 11 areseparated a distance less than the width of the film strip for which thedevice is adapted and as before stated, these guides are inclineddownwardly with the result that the film is held by its edges only in adownwardl curved position as best shown in Fig. 7 he tension of thestrips when thus distorted holds them tightl m the guides against theentrance of light rom below and provides a curved bottom for the channel13; The loading of the film into the device is accomplished in a darkroom but the further operations may be performed in the light.

The developing fluid is now poured into the opening 17 and through thepassage 16 to the channel 13 which it fills in direct contact with theupper sensitized surface of the film 19 which latter is thus developed,a rocking motion preferably being communicated to the tray, as usual.

The solid portions 14: and 15 at the ends of the channel 13 serve toprevent the stretched film strip from sagging downward or doublingsufiiciently to become detached from the guides, particularly wheninserting the support 2 in the tray 1 and it will be notedthat duringthe process of developing, the sensitive or emulsion surface of the filmis turned upward with the body of developer above it so that there islittle tendency for air bubbles to adhere thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a roll film. developing apparatus, the combination with a supportprovided with film retaining guides and a roll holding box detachablycooperating with one end of the support to form a roll holding chambercom- 'municating with said guides, of a developing tray adapted toreceive the support and to retain the roll holding box in place thereon.

2. In a roll film developing apparatus, the combination with a supportprovided with film retaining guides and a roll holding box detachablycoiiperating with one end of the support to form a roll holding chambercommunicating with said guides, the opposite end of the support havin aninclined face, of a developing tray a apted to receive the support andto retain the roll holdingbox in place thereon, one end of the traybeing provided With an undercutwall to lock against the inclined endface of the support.

3. In a roll film developing apparatus, the combination with adeveloping tray, of a film supporting member therein having filmretainin devices on its under side and provided with a tortuous passageopening at its top through which developer may be poured upon the film.

4. In a roll film developing apparatus, the

combination with a developing tray, of a film.

supporting member therein having parallel film guides on its under sideadapted to hold a film strip by its edges and a channel above andbetween the guides, said member being provided with a tortuous passageopening at its top and communicating with the channel g1 permitdeveloper to be poured upon the 5. In a film roll developing apparatus,a

ROBERT KROEDEL.

Witnesses:

HELEN M. FRASER, MARGARET DUIGNAN.

